JP5255970B2 - Floor material for urination of pet animals - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a urination floor material for a pet animal used for the purpose of providing a place for the pet animal to excrete.

  As typified by Patent Documents 1 and 2, a urination floor material and a urine absorption material are arranged in two stages to promote excretion on the urination floor material, and urination that has passed through the urination floor material is performed. There is a known toilet system for pets that is made to absorb water with an absorbent material.

  A pet animal has a habit of favorably excreting on sandy objects. In Patent Documents 1 and 2, a flooring material for urination is laid with a granular material that does not absorb urine and allows its passage. By placing the upper in the upper position, the pet animal is encouraged to enter and exit the toilet and excretion, and the lower absorption material absorbs urine.

  In Patent Document 1, a plant-derived pulverized product and a synthetic resin powder are mixed and stirred to form a granule, and the synthetic resin powder is melted by natural heat generated during molding by the molding machine. The pulverized material is bound to give urine absorption suppression effect and shape retention that does not collapse even if urine is absorbed.

  Patent Document 2 shows a method of using mineral sand such as river sand as the flooring material for urination and applying a water repellent film such as silicon or wax to the sand without absorbing urine. ing.

Japanese Patent No. 3519353 JP-A-7-67489

  However, as in Patent Document 1, the floor material for urination in which the plant-derived pulverized product and the synthetic resin powder are mixed and stirred into a granular shape is obtained by melting the synthetic resin powder with heat at the time of the granular molding and strengthening the bond. However, even if the phenomenon that the synthetic resin powder melts with molding heat and binds the plant-derived pulverized material can be expected, it is possible to obtain the combined amount of the plant-derived pulverized material by poor mixing of the synthetic resin powder. This is difficult, so urination actually penetrates to the core of the granular material, and if this penetration is repeated each time urination is performed, the entire granular material collapses and loses its function as a flooring material for urination have.

  Further, if the synthetic resin powder is richly mixed, the above-mentioned collapse can be prevented, but the low water absorption (the effect of suppressing urination absorption) planned by Patent Document 1 is impaired, and the intended purpose cannot be achieved.

  On the other hand, the urination floor material in which the water-repellent agent is mixed and agitated and dried in the mineral sand as described in Patent Document 2 and the surface of the sand particles is coated with the water-repellent agent is disintegrated as in Patent Document 1 described above. Although the concern is solved, the surface of the water repellent covering the individual sand particles is completely difficult to expect because the surface of the sand particles is covered with a water repellent and low water absorption is expected. A phenomenon occurs in which many fine water droplets are formed due to the surface tension of the residual urine. The residual urine water droplets are in contact with the outside air while being blocked by the water repellent, and have a problem that the bad odor accompanying the progress of decay becomes remarkable.

The present invention provides a floor material enriched in suitability as a urination floor material that promotes the excretion of companion animals, which effectively solves the above problems. That is, it is used in a toilet system for pet animals in which a urination floor material made of water-absorbing granular material that promotes excretion of pet animals is arranged on the upper side and an absorbent material that absorbs urine passing through the floor material is arranged on the lower side A flooring material for urination, wherein the surface of the water-absorbing particulates is covered with a semipermeable membrane that is slow in urine absorption rate, and the semipermeable membrane facilitates passage of urine between the water-absorbing particulates. At the same time, the residual urine that wets the surface of the semipermeable membrane is gradually absorbed into the water-absorbing granular material through the semipermeable membrane.

  The water-absorbing granular material is formed into a spherical shape or a shape obtained by compression-molding the spherical shaped granular material into a flat shape. In other words, the granular material has a flat surface on the outer surface.

  The urination floor material of the pet animal having the above-described structure according to the present invention has an effect of suppressing the urinary absorption rate and absorption amount and allowing the urine of excretion to pass through, and the residual urine content that wets the surface of the granular material after excretion. It has a low water-absorbing effect that gradually absorbs, has a good shape retaining property that does not disintegrate even when absorbed, and has a good suitability as a flooring material for pets.

  Furthermore, the residual urine content is taken into the granular material through the semipermeable membrane and concealed by the semipermeable membrane, so that the decay of the residual urine can be suppressed and the generation of malodor can be effectively prevented.

  Furthermore, by making the water-absorbing granular material into a flat compression-molded shape, it is possible to improve the fixing property when laying the flooring material and effectively prevent scattering.

  Moreover, the water resistance can be improved by mixing the sizing agent in the semipermeable membrane, and the semipermeable effect can be improved. The shape retention can be enhanced by the improvement of the water resistance.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As described above, the absorbent material 2 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with the urination floor material 1 composed of the granular material 1 ′ for promoting the excretion of the companion animal, and absorbs the urine passed through the floor material 1 at the lower position. There is a known toilet system for pets.

  In the toilet system, a perforated plate 3 such as a spider is disposed in the upper part, a urine receiving tray 4 is disposed in the lower part, and the urine flooring 1 made of particulate matter 1 'is laid on the perforated plate 3, It has a structure in which an absorbent material 2 such as a water absorbent sheet is laid on the urine receiving tray 4.

  The granular material 1 ′ does not have a function of absorbing urine during excretion, and has the purpose of forming an excretion field that encourages excretion of the pet 5 as described above. Is excreted on the granular material 1 ′ (urination bed material 1), and the excreted urine passes between the granular materials 1 ′ and is further dropped onto the water absorbing material 2 through the perforated plate 3 and absorbed. The spent absorbent material 2 is exchanged in a short period of time, for example, about one week, and the granular material 1 'is exchanged for repeated use, for example, for about one month.

  The present invention provides a suitable granular material 1 ′ as the flooring material 1 for urination, and the granular material 1 ′ is mainly composed of a water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ mainly composed of plant fibers 9.

  As the plant fiber 9, plant-derived pulp such as wood pulp, wood powder, fiber obtained by pulverizing waste paper, or the like is used.

Examples of the granule 1 'and the compounding ratio (% by weight) are shown below.

<First blending example and blending ratio>
Pulp 100%

<Second blending example and blending ratio>
Pulp 50-99%
1-50% inorganic filler

<Third blending example and blending ratio>
Pulp 45-98%
1-50% inorganic filler
Antibacterial agent 1-5%

  Each said compounding material which uses the aggregate material of the said vegetable fiber 9 as a main material is applied to a granulator with or without addition of water to form a water-absorbing granular material 1 'as shown in FIG.

  The inorganic filler 10 in the second and third blending examples is a means for increasing the weight of the granular material 1 ′ of the plant fibers 9 and adjusting the degree of water absorption in the decreasing direction by adjusting the porosity between the plant fibers 9. Use. This inorganic filler 10 consists of powders, such as a talc, clay, a calcium carbonate.

  Further, the antibacterial agent in the third blending example prevents the decay of the remaining urine absorbed in the water-absorbent granular material 1 'through the slow-acting semipermeable membrane 6 described later, and prevents the generation of a strange odor. .

  As a granulating means for the water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ in each of the above examples, the water-absorbing granular material 1 is promoted by rolling the compounding materials shown in the first to third compounding examples on the rotary table or in the drum. ′ Is molded without compression.

  Alternatively, the compounding materials shown in each of the above compounding examples are hydro-kneaded and applied to a compression molding machine to compress and mold the water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ having a predetermined shape.

  Alternatively, the water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ is compression-molded by applying the compounding material shown in each of the above compounding examples to a tableting machine or an extruder without adding water.

  Each water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ is formed into a size of about 3 mm to 15 mm through the above various granulators.

  Next, the surface of the water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ is covered with a slow semipermeable membrane 6 that suppresses the water absorption performance of the granular material 1 ′.

  Here, the slow-acting semipermeable membrane 6 is a membrane or layer having a slower moisture permeation rate and a limited permeation amount than the water permeable membrane.

  In other words, the urination time of the companion animal 5, for example, a cat is about 10 to 25 seconds, and the above-mentioned slowness property shows a substantially water-blocking property against the urine during this urination time, and is half the time after urination. It means that it has a time lag that gradually absorbs the remaining urine 8 that wets the surface of the water permeable membrane 6, and semi-permeable means that the entire amount of water is blocked during urination and the remaining urine 8 is allowed to permeate. means.

  Therefore, unlike the treatment material intended to absorb almost the entire amount of urination, the slow-acting semipermeable membrane 6 promotes the passage of urine through the granular material 1 'provided with the semipermeable membrane 6 during urination, and after urination (excretion) It is a low water-absorbing inhibitor that limits the water absorption, absorbing the residual urine 8 that wets the surface of the semipermeable membrane 6 after the action).

  As a material for forming the semipermeable membrane 6, water-soluble PVA, the same EVA, polyurethane, or the like is used. These coating materials are suitable materials which impart water permeability and time lag limited to the slow-speed semipermeable membrane 6, and in particular, PVA has high water dispersibility and is available at low cost and is effective.

Examples of the semipermeable membrane 6 and formulation ratios (% by weight) are shown below, and the water permeability in each example is shown.

<First blending example and blending ratio>
100% PVA
Water permeability of the first formulation example: 10-30%

<Second blending example and blending ratio>
PVA 10-99%
1-90% sizing agent
Water permeability of second blending example: 1 to 10%

<Third blending example and blending ratio>
PVA 95-99%
Antibacterial agent 1-5%
Water permeability of the third blending example: 10 to 20%

<Fourth blending example and blending ratio>
PVA 5-98%
1-90% sizing agent
Antibacterial agent 1-5%
Water permeability of the fourth blending example: 5 to 10%

  The water permeability measurement method is as follows: a cylindrical container having a diameter of 50 mm and a depth of 50 mm and having a net-like bottom is prepared, and a granular material 1 ′ provided with a semipermeable membrane 6 is placed therein to a height of 20 mm. Drop 20% saline solution with a concentration of 2% and 35 ° C placed in a syringe (Terumo Corporation Syringe SS-50ESZ) from above the object 1 ', and measure the saline solution that has passed through the cylinder containing the granular material 1'. The measured amount was subtracted from 20 ml, divided by 20, and multiplied by 100 to obtain the water permeability.

When the water permeability of the water-absorbent granular material 1 ′ was 3 to 15% by the semi-permeable membrane 6, it was effective in any of the urination water impermeability, the residual urine water permeability, the shape retention property and the deodorization property.

  Any of organic, inorganic metal, photocatalytic, and natural types can be used as the antibacterial agent, but an organic surfactant type antibacterial agent is effective. This surfactant type antibacterial agent imparts an antibacterial function to the semipermeable membrane 6 and can adjust the water permeability (water permeability) of the semipermeable membrane 6 with the surfactant.

  The antibacterial agent in the third blending example is added only in the water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ without blending the antibacterial agent in the semi-permeable membrane 6, or both the water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ and the semi-permeable membrane 6. Add antibacterial agent to

  Furthermore, in order to acquire the effect of the said surfactant, surfactant can be mix | blended independently in the semi-permeable membrane 6. FIG. That is, in any of the first to fourth blending examples of the semipermeable membrane 6, the surfactant is blended in the range of 1 to 5%. In this case, the blending ratio of the composition material in each blending example varies depending on the blending ratio of the surfactant.

  The semipermeable membrane 6 is formed, for example, by spraying the semipermeable membrane 6 forming material in each of the above blending examples on the surface of the water absorbent granular material 1 ′. The thickness of the semipermeable membrane 6 is set by the spray amount and the concentration of the semipermeable membrane forming material.

  The slow permeable semipermeable membrane 6 illustrated in each of the above examples suppresses urine absorption during excretion by the water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ to promote passage of urine during urination and wets the surface of the semipermeable membrane 6. The remaining urine 8 can be gradually absorbed through the semipermeable membrane 6 and into the water-absorbing granular material 1 ′.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the water-absorbing granular material 1 'has a substantially spherical cross-sectional shape, or a shape obtained by flatly compressing the spherical granular material as shown in FIG. That is, after granulating by using the granulator exemplified above, it is compressed through, for example, between rollers and shaped into a flat shape.

  The flat water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ forms a substantially flat surface 7 having a large area on the upper surface and the lower surface, and is stably laid on the porous plate 3 on the flat surface 7.

  As the semipermeable membrane 6, the PVA or the like is used alone as shown in the first blending example, or the PVA or the like and an antibacterial agent are used as in the third blending example, or as shown in the second and fourth blending examples. A sizing agent is internally added to form a layer, and the sizing agent is contained in the slow-acting semipermeable membrane 6. Moreover, it does not prevent using PVA and EVA etc. mixed.

  The sizing agent is used for the purpose of imparting water resistance to paper in papermaking, and by incorporating this sizing agent into the slow-acting semipermeable membrane 6, the surface of the water-absorbing granular material 1 ′ is covered. The water resistance of the water permeable membrane 6 is improved, and the water retention improves the shape retention strength that does not collapse even if the residual urine 8 is repeatedly absorbed, that is, the layer strength.

  That is, by adding a sizing agent into the slow-acting semipermeable membrane 6, the water resistance can be improved and the semipermeable effect can be improved, and the shape retention can be enhanced by improving the water resistance.

Sectional drawing which shows the usage example of the floor material for urination of the pet animal which concerns on this invention. A is an enlarged sectional view showing a water-absorbing granular material covered with a slow-speed semipermeable membrane, which is configured as a flooring material for urination of a pet animal according to the present invention, and B is a state in which the granular material absorbs residual urine. FIG. A is a perspective view which shows the example which made the water-absorbing granular material which gave the said semi-permeable membrane into the flat shape, B is the sectional drawing.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Floor material for urination, 1 '... Water-absorbing granular material, 2 ... Absorbent material, 3 ... Porous plate, 4 ... Urine tray, 5 ... Pet animal, 6 ... Semi-permeable membrane, 7 ... Plane, 8 ... Residual urine Min, 9 ... plant fiber, 10 ... inorganic filler.

Claims (2)

The above is used in a toilet system for pet animals in which a urination floor material made of water-absorbing granular material that promotes excretion of pet animals is arranged on the upper side, and an absorbent material that absorbs urine passing through the floor material is arranged on the lower side. A flooring material for urination, wherein the surface of the water-absorbing particulates is covered with a semipermeable membrane that is slow in urine absorption rate, and the semipermeable membrane facilitates passage of urine between the water-absorbing particulates. A flooring material for urination of pet animals, characterized by having a structure in which residual urine that wets the surface of the semipermeable membrane is gradually absorbed through the semipermeable membrane and into the water-absorbent granular material. 2. The flooring material for urination of pet animals according to claim 1, wherein the water-absorbing granular material has a flat compression-molded shape.

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